Kolkata: A political firestorm has erupted in West Bengal following comments made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee regarding the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Banerjee's assertive stance, encapsulated in the phrase "'TMC Will Do What It Has To,'" has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are now demanding a First Information Report (FIR) against him.

The controversy stems from the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The TMC has alleged that the BJP is using the SIR to deliberately exclude legitimate voters ahead of the 2026 state elections. Banerjee has been particularly vocal, accusing the BJP of orchestrating the revision to manipulate the political landscape. He warned of potential mass protests, stating that if even one eligible voter is removed from the rolls, one lakh Bengalis would hold a "dharna" (protest) outside the ECI office in Delhi.

Banerjee has framed the SIR as a tool for exclusion rather than inclusion, alleging the BJP's influence over the process. He questioned why West Bengal was being singled out, given that five Northeastern states share borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Despite his criticism, Banerjee has expressed confidence that the TMC will increase its seat tally in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The BJP has reacted strongly to Banerjee's statements. The party alleges that the TMC is afraid of the SIR because it will lead to the deletion of "Bangladeshi Muslims" who are illegally enrolled in the voter list and form a significant vote bank for the TMC. The BJP insists that the SIR is necessary to remove illegal voters and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Some BJP leaders are demanding an FIR against Banerjee, accusing him of inciting unrest and making false allegations.

Other political parties have also weighed in on the issue. The CPI(M) has called for transparency in the SIR process and has stated that it will deploy booth-level agents to ensure that genuine voters are not omitted. The party has also criticized the delay in conducting the census, arguing that the lack of credible data has led to confusion.

Adding fuel to the fire, Banerjee has also criticized the ECI, accusing it of acting on the directives of the BJP. He highlighted concerns raised by the INDIA bloc regarding the ECI's functioning and alleged that the BJP is attempting to implement the SIR in Bengal at an unprecedented speed.

The TMC, however, maintains that it is not against the SIR in principle, but it opposes the deletion of genuine voters. The party has urged its workers and the public to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands. A TMC spokesperson stated that the party would take constitutional measures against the SIR if legitimate voters are excluded.

The controversy surrounding the SIR has intensified the political rivalry between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal. With the 2026 elections approaching, both parties are vying for control of the state, and the issue of electoral rolls has become a major battleground. The coming months are likely to see further political maneuvering and protests as the SIR process unfolds.